Safety pole for handicapped persons

ABSTRACT

This user support pole has a rotating platform for the feet of the user. Thus, the user can (e.g., from a wheel chair) place his or her feet on this platform and, using the pole, rise from the sitting position. After this, the user (while standing on the platform) can be rotated around the pole as necessary for alignment with the new seat, whether chair, bed, or toilet, and allowed to lower himself or herself into position. In the preferred embodiment, a pair of handles that rotate with the platform are also provided. These give the user something to hold onto in pulling upright as well as something to hold onto during the process of being rotated.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention pertains generally to the field of handicapped assistance devices. More particularly, the invention pertains to poles that are used by elderly, bedridden, disabled, and other individuals in need of physical assistance to make transfers from, e.g., bed to wheel chair.

2. Description of Related Art

Poles for the assistance of handicapped individuals and others are well known in the art. Such poles come in easily installed home use versions and in more rugged and permanent institutional versions. Examples of typical locations for such poles include bedsides, in front of a chair, and in front of a toilet. The user can, after being moved or moving to one of these locations in a wheelchair, grip the pole and use it to rise. Then, holding onto the pole, the user can shuffle around the pole 180 degrees, and (once again) use the pole as a support while lowering himself or herself onto a bed, toilet, or chair. When rising, the operation is reversed. However, the present art is limited by the fact that patients lacking in strength and awareness may find the operation of moving around the pole very difficult. Conversely, it is very difficult for a caregiver to adequately assist in this operation. Thus, there is a need for a device that will facilitate this operation for such individuals.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In the instant invention, the primary innovation is the introduction of a rotating platform for the feet of the user. Thus, the user can (e.g., from a wheel chair) place his or her feet on this platform and, using the pole, rise from the sitting position. After this, the user (while standing on the platform) can rotate himself/herself or be rotated around the pole as necessary for alignment with the new seat, whether chair, bed, or toilet, and allowed to lower himself or herself into position. In the preferred embodiment, a pair of handles that rotate with the platform are also provided. These give the user something to hold onto in pulling upright as well as something to hold onto during the process of being rotated by another. Alternatively, handles or handgrips on the non-rotating portion of the pole can be provided. These give the user something to use in rotating himself or herself around the pole.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 provides a schematic cross-sectional view of the base of the invention.

FIG. 2A provides a first perspective view of the invention.

FIG. 2B provides a second perspective view of the invention.

FIG. 3A provides a first perspective view of a user utilizing the invention.

FIG. 3B provides a second perspective view of a user utilizing the invention.

FIG. 4 provides a first perspective view of a user on the platform of the invention.

FIG. 5 provides a second perspective view of a user on the platform of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

As will be observed from review of the drawing figures, the handicap assistance pole (denoted generally by arrow 1) of my invention includes—as is typical of prior art—a vertical support pole 2 having a base end 2A for location adjacent a floor 3. Pole 2 can have a telescoping upper section that can be pressed upward firmly against a ceiling (as is known and practiced in the art) so as to from a stable frictional fit and hold pole 2 in rigid position between floor 3 and a ceiling. Alternatively, it can be fastened to both floor 3 and ceiling using means typical in the art. Even more importantly and innovatively, it includes a rotating foot platform 4 located proximate the base end 2A, said platform 4 being capable of rotating around pole 2. As illustrated in the preferred embodiments shown, it can also advantageously include user handles 5 located on opposite sides of the pole 2 that rotate along with said platform 4. In the embodiments shown, this result is accomplished by an interconnecting sheath 6 that connects platform 4 and handles 5 and encloses the lower portion of pole 2. (In the discussions that follow it should be remembered that sheath 6 can also be used by the patient or user for the same purposes as and/or without the inclusion of handles 5 in the invention, i.e., to grip and hold for raising and lowering the body and for general stability while being rotated on platform 4.)

As is typical of the art, pole 2 has a support base 2B at its base end 2A adapted for placement adjacent to (and/or for connection to) floor 3. Support base 2B likewise supports the rotating platform 4 via means known in the mechanical arts. This can take the form of bearing rings 7 such as those illustrated in the turntable or “lazy Susan” type arrangement illustrated in FIG. 1.

As should be clear from the drawing figures, handles 5 are placed at a distance from the rotating platform 5 that enables them to be reached by a seated user, so that said seated user can use handles 5 for pulling up as well as for support while lowering his or her body onto seating. Thus, the method of my invention involves (at the minimum), placement of a user's feet on the rotating platform (by the user or a caregiver), and rotation of the user while supported by platform 4 around pole 2. However, it will also usually involve placement of a user's hands on said handles 5, and the user using said handles 5 to rise to a standing position supported by platform 4 or sink to a seated position at an adjacent location such as a bed 8, a wheel chair 9 or a toilet 10.

This sequence is illustrated in FIGS. 3A through 5. In these drawing figures, a disabled user is illustrated with feet and hands applicably placed on the invention and (a) ready to rise from wheelchair 9 in FIGS. 3A and 3B, (b) beginning the process of being rotated around pole 2 in FIG. 4, and (c) further rotated around pole 2 and/or ready to be seated on bed 8 in FIG. 5. Alternately, starting at the other end of the sequence, a disabled user is illustrated with feet and hands applicably placed on the invention and (a) holding onto the invention after rising from bed 8 in FIG. 5, (b) in the process of being rotated around pole 2 in FIG. 4, and (c) after sinking into wheelchair 9 in FIGS. 3A and 3B.

However, there are numerous changes that can be made in the foregoing described apparatus and method without exceeding the scope of the inventive concept. Accordingly, it is to be understood that the embodiments of the invention herein described are merely illustrative of the application of the principles of the invention. Reference herein to details of the illustrated embodiments is not intended to limit the scope of the claims, which themselves recite those features regarded as essential to the invention. 

1. A handicap assistance pole, comprising: a) a vertical support pole, said pole having a base end for location adjacent a floor; and b) a rotating foot platform located proximate the base end of said pole, said platform being capable of rotating around said pole.
 2. A handicap assistance pole as described in claim 1, further comprising a sheath connected to and rotating with said rotating base and enclosing a portion of said pole.
 3. A handicap assistance pole as described in claim 1, further comprising handles located above said rotating platform, said handles one of: rotating with said platform, and not rotating with said platform but being fixed to said pole.
 4. A handicap assistance pole as described in claim 2, further comprising handles located above said rotating platform, said handles one of: rotating with said platform, and not rotating with said platform but being fixed to said pole.
 5. A handicap assistance pole as described in claim 4, wherein handles rotating with said platform are connected to said platform via said sheath.
 6. A handicap assistance pole, comprising: a) a vertical support pole, said pole having a base end for location adjacent a floor; b) a rotating foot platform located proximate the base end of said pole, said platform being capable of rotating around said pole; c) wherein said pole has a support base at its base end adapted for placement adjacent a floor, which support base supports the rotating platform; and d) a sheath connected to and rotating with said rotating base and enclosing a portion of said pole; and e) handles located above and rotating with said rotating platform.
 7. A method for using the handicap assistance pole described in claim 1, comprising placement of a user's feet on the rotating platform; and rotating the user supported by said platform around said pole.
 8. A method for using the handicap assistance pole as described in claim 2, comprising placement of a user's feet on the rotating platform; placement of the user's hands on said sheath; and rotating the user supported by said platform around said pole.
 9. A method for using the handicap assistance pole as described in claim 5, comprising placement of a user's feet on the rotating platform; placement of the user's hands on said handles; and rotating the user supported by said platform around said pole.
 10. A method for using the handicap assistance pole as described in claim 8, further comprising said user using said sheath to at least one of: rise to a standing position supported by said platform and sink to a seated position at an adjacent location.
 11. A method for using the handicap assistance pole as described in claim 9, further comprising said user using said handles to at least one of: rise to a standing position supported by said platform and sink to a seated position at an adjacent location.
 12. A method for using the handicap assistance pole as described in claim 3, wherein one of: a user rotates himself around said pole and the user is rotated around said pole by another.
 13. A method for using the handicap assistance pole as described in claim 6, wherein one of: a user rotates himself around said pole and the user is rotated around said pole by another.
 14. A method for using a handicap assistance pole as described in claim 12, wherein said rotation is accomplished using handles one of: attached to said pole, and rotating with said platform.
 15. A method for using a handicap assistance pole as described in claim 12, wherein said rotation is accomplished using handles one of: attached to said pole, and rotating with said platform.
 16. A handicap assistance pole as described in claim 3, wherein said handles are placed at a distance from the rotating platform that enables them to be reached by a seated user, so that said seated user can use said handles for pulling up.
 17. A handicap assistance pole as described in claim 6, wherein said handles are placed at a distance from the rotating platform that enables them to be reached by a seated user, so that said seated user can use said handles for pulling up.
 18. A method for using a handicap assistance pole as described in claim 7, wherein said handles are placed at a distance from the rotating platform that enables them to be reached by a seated user, so that said seated user can use said handles for pulling up.
 19. A method for using a handicap assistance pole as described in claim 9, wherein said handles are placed at a distance from the rotating platform that enables them to be reached by a seated user, so that said seated user can use said handles for pulling up.
 20. A handicap assistance pole as described in claim 12, wherein said handles are placed at a distance from the rotating platform that enables them to be reached by a seated user, so that said seated user can use said handles for pulling up. 